( ・３・)
Silence fell over the chamber.
Nemuri said nothing.
She already knew — women would come for him. They always would.
That was why she had set a condition long ago:
If any woman ever approached Maki seriously, she would have to go through her first.
His stepmother.
If she approved, then fine.
But Maki never cared about such things.
To him, one wife was enough. He wasn't greedy. He had once lived a normal life, and that life shaped him into the man he was now. A person should be grateful for what they have.
When Nemuri once warned him, he had only laughed.
"Me? You must be joking. Am I some kind of magnet that attracts women? Don't joke around."
Nemuri understood how women thought.
Maki didn't understand his own value.
But now things were different.
He wasn't just attractive.
He was powerful. Rare.
And rarity draws attention.
Nemuri hadn't expected even Unohana… or Yoruichi… to fall for him.
It wasn't just his face.
It was his entire being.
She could already see it — this wouldn't stop here.
More would come.
She took a deep breath.
"We'll talk about that later. First, we need to take him outside. The Dean has called for a meeting."
Yoruichi casually placed a hand on Nemuri's shoulder.
"Hey, Nemuri… or should I call you stepmom? No need to think that hard about it."
Nemuri lifted her chin.
"Hmph. Yoruichi… is that how you plan to treat your future mother-in-law?"
Yoruichi blinked.
"Wait. Does that mean you said yes?!"
Nemuri smiled faintly.
"Don't celebrate too early, daughter-in-law. We still need to ask him. He doesn't even think something like this is possible."
A voice came from behind.
"Wait — you too, Yoruichi? How dare you covet my husband?"
It was Mei.
Yoruichi smirked. "Oh, Mei. Don't tell me your delusions kicked in again."
Meanwhile, Isane slowly approached her mother.
She wrapped her arms around Unohana from behind and buried her face into her back.
"Mother… please don't do anything like that again. Are you really going to leave me too?"
Unohana felt her daughter's trembling embrace.
"No, Isane… I'm not leaving you. It's alright now. And even if something happened… I'm sure your father would come rushing to save me again."
Isane held her tighter.
"Thank you, Mother… thank you so much. I'll support you in whatever you decide. Just… please don't leave me."
Unohana's voice softened completely.
"Now, now… how could I leave you? You're my first priority."
Yoruichi, Nemuri, and the others watched with faint smiles.
Who were they to stop her?
She had been restraining herself for too long.
And now… her voice wasn't restrained anymore.
It was simply a mother's voice.
Then the others arrived.
Curiosity burned in their eyes.
Nejire was the first to explode.
"H-Hey! Nemuri-sensei! Why do you know him? What's his name? Why does he have two powers? Does he have a girlfriend? Where does he live? How old is he? Can I get his number? Can you introduce hi—"
Monet immediately sealed her mouth.
"Shh. Not all at once."
Now every gaze turned to Nemuri.
She raised a hand.
"That's youthful enthusiasm… but we're in a hurry. The examination is suspended. We'll discuss everything in the faculty room. No questions for now. We evacuate first."
The girls pouted in disappointment.
It was obvious Nemuri was guarding him.
But none of them could blame her.
Nemu then asked calmly,
"Who will carry him?"
Every eyebrow rose.
Unohana slowly stood.
Isane quietly rebraided her mother's hair the way it used to be. When she finished, Unohana looked once again like the gentle medic professor they knew.
"I'll carry him. You all go ahead. Return to your classrooms and wait for further instructions."
The second-years gulped.
No one dared argue.
Besides, with her Shikai, she could transport him safely.
Mabui tilted her head.
"I could send him faster, if you'd like."
"NO!" the women answered at the same time.
"Go first," Mei teased the younger students. "the others might be worried about you."
They rolled their eyes but obeyed.
Before leaving, Konan created a small origami and let it drift toward Maki's hood.
Black Maria, Monet, Soi Fon, and Nejire followed — though their eyes lingered on the sleeping man.
They didn't want to leave.
But they would see him again.
He would definitely pass the examination.
And they would have plenty of time on campus.
As they walked away, Nemuri muttered,
"Look at that youth. So spicy."
"Look who's talking," Mei replied.
Isane and Nemu remained beside Unohana.
Then Maki murmured in his sleep.
"…Mother… I'm okay… it's all okay…"
They froze.
His voice was low. Gentle.
They all turned toward Nemuri.
"That's just how he is," she said quietly. "He doesn't show it. But he's homesick. He misses his biological mother."
Their gazes returned to him.
After regaining her composure fully, Unohana stepped onto her Shikai, carrying Maki with her. The others followed as Manizaki flew toward the chamber's exit.
On the way, Gion spoke.
"Nemuri. Tell me the truth. Do you really know who he is?"
Nemuri looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
Mabui answered instead.
"It's about earlier. During the fight."
Yoruichi added, "The thing he called 'Strengthen.'"
"So you noticed," Gion said.
"Not directly," Yoruichi replied. "We can't sense it like you can. But the three of you reacted at the same time. That wasn't coincidence."
Mabui nodded. "If you three veterans reacted like that, then we assumed…"
Mei crossed her arms. "Will someone explain already?"
Unohana's voice came calmly.
"He holds the Authority of an Akuma."
Silence.
"That is why," she continued, "in a prolonged battle of strength… I would inevitably lose to him."